Process of manufacturing wigs.



UNITED STATES {Patented September 1, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

PROCESS OF MANUFACTURING WIGS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 737,780, dated September1, 1903.

Application filed December 23, 1902. ,Serial No- 136,363. (Nospecimens.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILHELM SoHUBBERT,a subject of the King ofPrussia,residing at Berlin, in the Kingdom of Prussia and German Empire,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes ofManufacturing Wigs, of which the following is a specification.

The better class of wigs are usually manufactured by providing afoundation, preferably of silk-gauze, such as is employed forbolting-machines, and threading human hair through its meshes, the twomaterials being held together by knotting. The human skull, however, hasapproximately the form of a calotte. Even in the case of the smallestwig, or so-called scalpette, therefore, the gauze must be given a moreor less hollowed form, corresponding to the shape of the skull;otherwise the wig will not lie closely to the bald part of the head. Forthis reason the gauze after being given the desired form is generallyprovided with a small band at the periphery in order that the correct"shape may be maintained. It is obvious that by this process a perfectand permanent fit is seldom attainable and is due to more chance morethan anything else, notwithstanding that the work of sewing theperipheral band to the gauze by hand is a delicate operation involvingmuch tedious labor.

The subject of myinvention is a new process of manufacturing wigs,according to which, while the peripheral band is dispensed with, a moreperfect article is produced.

According to my new process the hairs are drawn singly through thegauze, (in place of which fine leather or other suitable material may beemployed,) as hitherto. The material is then coated with a thick, butnot necessarily saturated, solution of celluloid or caoutchouc or thelike. The article thus treated is then laid while still Wet upon thehead and pressed down, so that it may take the form of the latter. Itmust then be left in this position until the solution is perfectly dry.For the purpose of promoting rapid drying the solution employed shouldbe one of a volatile character. Thus if celluloid is used acetic otherwould be the solvent most suitable from this point of View. This otherhas a pleasant odor and evaporates within a few seconds. After thesolution has dried the wig can be removed from the head and will retainthe hollow form without any further treatment or operation in thisrespect. The wig can be turned outside in, so that the hair lies insidethe hollow, and again reversed into the proper position without thepermanent shape of the Wig being affected. Such reversal of the wig may,in fact, be repeated any number of times'without the article losing itscorrect shape, unless, of course, the medium applied becomes dissolvedor otherwise softened in some manner. Celluloid and caoutchouc beinginsoluble in cold or lukewarm water, (perspiration, &c.,) the wig willretain its shape for years.

The scalp of some persons is too sensitive to admit of the wigimpregnated with a solu tion of celluloid or caoutchouc being applied tothe head, owing to the sensation of cold thereby experienced at the baldpart. In such cases the process may be modified, the celluloid solutionbeing applied to the foundation of the wig, and after it has dried andthe solvent totally evaporated, so-that the celluloid has hardened onthe gauze, the medium then rendered pliable and plastic by the aid ofhot water or other suitable means. The still unshaped wig is thenapplied in warm condition to the bald part of the head and uniformlypressed down upon the latter with a gauze cloth or the like. The exactshape of the head will thus be imparted to the'wig. The latter should beleft in this position until it is perfectly cold, and when removed fromthe head it will permanently retain the assumed shape.

The process may also be employed for adapting a wig made for one personto the head of another wearer. Another advantage of the process is thatthe hair will adhere more firmly to the foundation in consequence of theimpregnation and subsequent hardening of the latter with celluloid orcaoutchouc. Wigs manufactured according to my improved process arepractically indestructible. Furthermore,thewig afterhaving beenmanufactured according to my method can be adapted to any specialrequirements in respect to the bald part of the head by cutting theedges or subsequently shaping certain portions. This is impossible inthe case of wigs shaped simply .by the provision of a peripheral band.The edge of the wig can also be cut in zigzag manner without any loss ofhair in the neighborhood of the line of cut, so that the edge of thegauze, tulle, or other foundation, even in the case of very thinlyknotted hair, is completely obliterated and rendered invisible when thewig is in use.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The process of manufacturing wigs and the like, consisting in coatingthe foundation of the article With a solution containing a hardeningsubstance and a volatile liquid solvent, applying the thus-treatedarticle to the bald part of the head and then removing it when theliquid solvent has evaporated and the substance is hardened on thefoundation, substantially as described.

2. The process of manufacturing wigs and the like, consisting in coatingthe foundation- In testimony whereof I have signed myname to thisspecification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

WILHELM SCHUBBERT'.

WVitnesses:

WOLDEMAR HAUPT, HENRY HASPER.

